Tomé Diogo

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Tomé Diogo was a sergeant in the Tentara Nasional Indonesia (Indonesian military, TNI). He was of East Timorese descent. He was a central character in openly-committed homicides and rapes in the East Timor Liquiçá district villages of Bazartete and Buku Mera, as well as other villages in that immediate area. It is still disputed today as to whether he was actually present at the infamous Liquiçá Church Massacre of 1999, but the consensus is that he was, based on information gathered by the UNTAET Crime Scene Detachment in early 2000. He was reportedly never a member of a pro-Indonesia militia, but instead was a member of the regular Indonesian TNI security forces operating in East Timor.

During the chaos of 1999, following the passage of the referendum for East Timorese independence, Diogo allegedly committed numerous murders. His normal mode of operation was to confront the strongest male members of a village, take them into a public view, and torture them while witnesses looked on. Diogo was rarely in uniform, but almost always had Indonesian TNI forces present. The TNI forces would rarely take part, but they would stand by in the event that any civilians attempted to stop Diogo. He was often accompanied by Besi Merah Putih militia members, and it has been suggested by former BMP members that it was Tomé Diogo who gave them their directions and orders.